Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 365 No one is perfect
The horse's hooves landed heavily, kicking up dust.

Zhu Youjian did not look back at the thousands of masts behind him, nor did he linger over the harbor that symbolized wealth and power. He spurred his horse, and like an arrow released from a bow, resolutely headed north along the port road they had come from.

"His Majesty!"

"Where does Your Majesty wish to go?!"

Behind him came the horrified cries of his ministers. Tian Ergeng scrambled to his feet, Qin Liangyu's gaze was grave, and countless generals and eunuchs surged onto the main road like a tide, following the emperor's departing figure.

They couldn't understand why, upon receiving the urgent report that the Jurchens were launching a full-scale attack, the emperor's first reaction was not to remain in the central command and mobilize troops, but instead to ride wildly towards the harbor where a snowstorm was imminent.

Zhu Youjian heard the shouts behind him, but he didn't turn around or slow down. The wind whistled past his ears, whipping up the hem of his tight-fitting clothes; the feeling wasn't like resistance, but rather like an urging.

He needed this moment of exhilaration, this biting cold wind, to extinguish the raging flames that the military report had just ignited in his heart.

Huang Taiji, you've finally stopped pretending.

You have finally revealed your most primal and ferocious fangs as a beast driven to the brink of despair.

A nationwide attack?

To achieve victory in one battle?
good very good!

My Liaodong, my Guanning, my Sun Chengzong, are waiting for you there!
I want to see whether your fangs, like those of a trapped beast, are sharper, or whether the mighty passes and fortified cities of my Great Ming Dynasty can grind bones to dust!

A violent yet exhilarating tremor ran through his chest.

Zhu Youjian felt he needed an outlet for his emotions.

He wanted to tell everyone, to tell the world, and to tell his adversary thousands of miles away that he, Zhu Youjian, was fearless!

The sound of hooves gradually slowed down, and ahead, the huge outline of the harbor dock became clearer in the wind and snow.

The towering command platform stands like a silent giant at the very front of the dock.

Below, hundreds of Fujian-style ships, sand barges, and warships lay quietly anchored in the harbor, their masts forming a dense forest, pointing towards the leaden sky.

Each ship was a mobile sea fortress, the sharp teeth and strong armor of the Ming Empire!

Zhu Youjian dismounted and threw the reins to the guards who had followed him.

He climbed the steps leading to the command platform step by step.

Behind him, Qin Liangyu, Tian Ergeng, and a group of officers finally caught up. They were panting and looked worried, but they dared not say anything to dissuade him and could only silently follow in the emperor's footsteps.

When Zhu Youjian finally stood atop the command platform, he took in the magnificent view of the entire Dengzhou Port.

The sky grew increasingly gloomy, and a northwest wind swirled fine snowflakes that stung his face, chilling him to the bone.

The waves, a chilling gray-black, pounded against the massive Fujian ship, producing a dull, drum-like roar.

The high-flying sun, moon, and dragon flags were torn and fluttered in the gale, their sound chilling, like the clash of swords.

However, this somber and icy atmosphere could not shake Zhu Youjian's surging emotions at this moment.

His young face flushed with excitement, and his eyes, which were always as deep as an ancient well, were now burning with a raging fire.

Zhu Youjian gazed at the turbulent, chaotic sea in the north, feeling that he was standing at an unprecedented historical juncture.

The humiliating scenes of Emperor Yingzong at Tumu Fortress, Emperor Wanli at Sarhu, and Emperor Tianqi at Liaoshen... all churned in his mind.

The helplessness of his ancestors, the incompetence of his subjects, and the decline of the nation's fortunes all seemed to have transformed into a heavy mountain pressing down on his shoulders at this moment.

But now, it will be his turn to end it all.

Zhu Youjian longed for a glorious victory, a victory that would wash away all the shame and restore the confidence of the people and the army, to prove to everyone that he, the Emperor of the Great Ming, was not a weak monarch who could only review memorials in the deep palace.

He believed that the timidity, shirking of responsibility, and factionalism among the officials in the court were the root cause of the Ming Dynasty's long-standing problems.

To break through all this, he must take the lead and use his actions to become a thunderbolt, splitting the gloom that shrouds the empire!
Zhu Youjian slowly stretched out his hand, as if to embrace the wind, snow and raging waves.

He opened his mouth, his words carrying a strange penetrating power in the howling wind. It wasn't a declaration to the courtiers behind him, but rather a soliloquy to the vast天地 (heaven and earth) and the depths of his own soul:
"I stand here, gazing upon the vast and silent Liaohai Sea, and contemplating the splendor of the capital."

"The Jurchens' rampage is a grave scourge to our nation. They stole our land and ravaged our people. This hatred cannot be washed away without the waves of the East Sea; this grievance cannot be avenged without burning the trees of Yanshan!"

"Now, the slave chieftain is in dire straits and seeks to survive by taking risks; Heaven is enraged, and this is the day when we have a just cause to send troops!"

"I, by the mandate of Heaven, lead the six armies on a northern expedition. I shall emulate my ancestors, pacifying the rebellion and clearing the borders. On this journey, I will take myself as the arrow and the three armies as the bowstring. If I do not avenge the old humiliation of Sarhu and recover the lost territories of Liaoshen, I swear I will not return to the capital!"

Upon hearing these bold words, the accompanying generals, eunuchs, and guards all felt a surge of passion rush from their chests to their heads. They gripped the hilts of their swords tightly, wishing they could immediately follow the emperor into the sea and fight the Jurchens to the death!

Passion burns in the wind and snow.

However, just as this burning passion was about to reach its peak, someone suddenly stood in front of the emperor.

"His Majesty!"

Tian Ergeng almost fell down in front of Zhu Youjian, grabbing the emperor's legs tightly with both hands, knocking his official hat off.

His face was deathly pale, his forehead was covered in cold sweat and snow, and he was trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Tian Ergeng knew better than anyone how great the risks were when the emperor personally led an expedition, especially at this time of year.

If... even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance that the dragon chariot is lost, Tian Ergeng, his deeply entrenched power, and even the entire newly stabilized court will collapse instantly and be doomed forever.

Zhu Youjian's brows furrowed instantly.

Tian Ergeng did not look up. He knew that if he looked up and saw the emperor's eyes, he might not even be able to speak.

He could only press his head firmly against the cold deck and, in a near-frenzied manner, roar out all the reasons that had swirled in his mind countless times and were enough to freeze any enthusiasm for going to sea!

"Your Majesty! It is not that I wish to undermine the morale of the army, but rather that the time is not right, the time is not right!"

He slightly raised his head, his finger trembling as he pointed to the churning, dark gray sea:

"Your Majesty! It is early winter now, and the wind blowing over the Bohai Sea is not from the south, but from the northwest! This is a headwind! It is not pushing us to Liaodong, but pushing us back to our hometown in Shandong! Our Ming Dynasty's Fujian ships are divine ships of the sea, but they still rely on sails! Going against the wind is like a boat going against the current, relying entirely on the two thousand strong men on the bottom of the ship to row day and night. In less than three days, the three armies will be exhausted! If we encounter enemy ships then, we will be fish on the chopping block!" Zhu Youjian's eyes narrowed.

Tian Ergeng's voice grew increasingly mournful, tinged with sobs:

“Wind direction is secondary! Does Your Majesty know about the white blizzards in Liaodong in winter? When the wind blows, the sky darkens and people can't see even an inch away! The waves can be several meters high, able to toss a thousand-ton ship up like a toy and then smash it down! At that time, even if a god descended from heaven, he would not be able to stand firm on the ship. If the dragon boat is in danger of capsizing, even if we die ten thousand times, it will not be enough to atone for our sins!”

His words unfolded before everyone's eyes like a vivid painting of hell.

The fervor on the faces of the young guards gradually faded.

Tian Ergeng seemed to think that wasn't enough, so he threw out the last straw:
"Your Majesty! Even if the heavens were on our side, and the journey was smooth and calm, allowing us to arrive safely at Lushun, the port of Lushun at that time was filled with drifting ice! That drifting ice was as thin as paper, yet as sharp as a knife, capable of silently tearing open the sturdy hull of a ship! Soldiers landing had to wade through knee-deep icy water to reach the shore. If they were not careful and fell into an ice hole, no matter how skilled they were in martial arts or how strong their armor was, they would be gone in an instant! Not even a sound could be heard, Your Majesty!"

A series of questions and descriptions struck Zhu Youjian's heart like heavy hammer blows.

But he was still the emperor, still that proud monarch.

Zhu Youjian snorted coldly: "What's there to fear from mere storms? My Great Ming Navy is always ready for battle. Are we just a bunch of useless decorations who can only sigh at the vast ocean?"

“The naval officers and soldiers are fearless, but…” Tian Ergeng wanted to persuade him further.

Just then, a voice as steady as a mountain interrupted him.

“Your Majesty, everything Governor Tian said is true and reflects the facts at sea.”

Qin Liangyu stepped forward. Unlike Tian Ergeng, she did not lose her composure. She simply clasped her hands in a fist and bowed slightly to Zhu Youjian.

She was dressed in plain military attire, without the ornate armor that symbolized her status, but only in the simplest and most practical battle robe.

Time has etched its marks on her face, but her eyes remain as calm as a deep pool and as sharp as a hawk's.

Unlike Tian Ergeng, who was filled with fear and pleading, Qin Liangyu carried the absolute respect of a seasoned general for the laws of war. Her presence seemed to possess an invisible aura that quieted the surrounding noise and tension to some extent.

Zhu Youjian turned to her, the anger in his eyes lessening slightly. He held genuine respect for this female general, renowned for her military achievements and unparalleled loyalty.

"General Qin, even you think this trip is inappropriate?"

"Your Majesty," Qin Liangyu's voice was not loud, but exceptionally clear, "Governor Tian has already described the dangers of the weather in detail. However, I believe that the weather is secondary; the real crisis will occur after we land."

Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling her to continue.

Qin Liangyu stretched out her hand and pointed to a fully armored imperial guard below the command platform. Then she turned her gaze to the vast harbor, where countless warhorses were being hoisted onto ships, their restless neighing echoing throughout.

She began to dissect the difficulties of the land route in a tone devoid of any emotion but filled with cold numbers.

"Your Majesty, a warhorse can travel a hundred li a day with just fodder in the summer and autumn. However, after winter arrives, the weather becomes freezing cold, and its energy consumption increases exponentially to withstand the harsh conditions. To maintain its strength, it needs to be fed an extra three jin of bean feed every day. If Your Majesty takes only three thousand guard cavalry with you on this expedition, the extra feed for the warhorses alone will amount to nearly ten thousand jin of fine feed per day!"

She paused, letting the number linger in everyone's minds.

"From Lushun to Guangning, the official road is about 800 li. In the summer, our army can reach the destination in seven or eight days by marching at full speed. However, in the winter, with ice and snow covering the roads, the physical exertion of men and horses is enormous, and they can only travel a maximum of 60 or 70 li per day. By this calculation, it will take at least ten days. Your Majesty, this is an extra burden of 100,000 jin! And this is only the horse feed! It does not include the rations for three thousand soldiers, the charcoal for heating, the winter clothing for warmth, and the spare armor... Our supply train will be twice as long as it is in the summer, while the marching speed will be half as slow!"

Numbers are cold, but they are also the most persuasive.

The generals on the command platform were all experts, and they instantly understood the terrifying logistical pressure represented by this extra 100,000 jin (50,000 kg).

Qin Liangyu then pointed to the guard's armor, her voice growing increasingly heavy:

"Your Majesty, please look at this armor again. In summer, it is the soldiers' protective shield. But in winter, it is a deadly block of ice! When soldiers march, their bodies heat up, and they sweat profusely, soaking their inner clothes. Once they stop to set up camp, a gust of cold wind will instantly freeze those wet clothes, and the cold air from the armor will penetrate straight to their bones. Within an hour, it can freeze a vigorous elite soldier into a lifeless corpse!"

She withdrew her hand and looked directly at Zhu Youjian, as if she could see into the depths of his heart.

"I have been suppressing rebellions in Sichuan for many years. The mountain climate is unpredictable, especially in winter. I have personally witnessed hundreds of soldiers in the camp who, after a heavy snowfall, had not had time to change into dry clothes and never woke up again in their sleep. They did not die from the enemy's swords, but from the silent, bitter cold. Such losses, which are not due to combat, are the most heartbreaking!"

His words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

The chill was even more biting than the sea breeze mixed with snowflakes.

Zhu Youjian remained silent.

He could use his willpower to fight against the storms, and he could use his imperial power to reprimand his subjects, but he could not use his willpower to change the food intake of his warhorses, nor could he use his imperial power to command his soldiers not to freeze to death.

This is the most basic, and also the most brutal, law of war.

The will of Heaven is unfathomable, and the power of Earth is finite.

Human actions, in the end, are merely seeking a small space within the universe.

Even the ambitions of emperors are no exception!

Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes.

Seeing that the emperor's expression finally softened, Qin Liangyu took a long breath, as if gathering strength for what she was about to say.

Her tone suddenly changed, becoming more serious than ever before.

"Your Majesty, but what I just said is not the most dangerous aspect of this journey, whether it is the danger of the weather or the difficulty of the terrain."

Zhu Youjian suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

Qin Liangyu met his gaze and said, word by word:

"The most terrifying thing is that every decision we make right now, every step we take, may be... stepping onto the very path that the slave chieftain Huang Taiji most wants us to take!"

These words were like a silent bolt of lightning that exploded on the deathly silent command platform!
Tian Ergeng forgot to cry out, the officers forgot to breathe, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Qin Liangyu's weathered yet incredibly resolute face.

Zhu Youjian slowly loosened his clenched fists and gently released his legs, which were being held by Tian Ergeng.

At this moment, the entire port of Dengzhou fell into an eerie silence.

Only the ceaseless wind and snow howled and swirled, as if telling a story of a huge conspiracy unknown to anyone.

Zhu Youjian's gaze pierced through the wind and snow, fixing firmly on Qin Liangyu, and he asked in a deep voice:
"What do you mean by that?"

(End of this chapter)